Rate Comment

Buildings consume more electricity and are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other man-made source on Earth. The building sector holds the key to climate control. In fact, all the world’s planes, trains and automobiles put together do not create half as much CO2 as buildings.

Despite regional variations, buildings have the dubious distinction of topping the list of the world’s worst polluters.

Breakdown of global energy consumption in
2004 by segment. Source: Commission of
the European Communities

The problem isn’t news. Edward Mazria popularized the idea back in 2004 when he wrote, “Buildings and their construction account for nearly half of all the greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumed ... architects hold the key to turning down the global thermostat.”

With climate change becoming a global priority, there is a push to create greener buildings. But the situation is not improving. In fact, it’s going from bad to worse. According to the US Green Building Council, emissions from buildings will increase faster than those from any other source over the next 25 years. That is, unless we rethink how we run them.

Resources